Martina Voss-Tecklenburg left her future as national coach open immediately after the disappointing first-round elimination at the World Cup.
“I stand by the fact that we haven’t managed to make any progress now. But I’m giving myself the opportunity not to say anything prematurely now. I also need some time to be able to process it. I’m primarily presenting myself now first in front of the team,” said the 55-year-old on ZDF.
The German women’s national soccer team missed out on the round of 16 of the tournament in Australia and New Zealand after beating South Korea 1-1 at the end of the group in Brisbane. “We have now twice achieved a result that is not enough. We have to face it now, and primarily my person, that’s clear,” said Voss-Tecklenburg, who also played in the quarter-finals at the 2019 World Cup National coach had worked. At last year’s European Championships in England, however, the ex-player had led the team to the final. She only extended her contract in April until 2025.
Voss-Tecklenburg: Analyze carefully and draw conclusions
“I don’t want to be pushed into anything too much now, which wouldn’t be right because it also happens out of emotion,” said the national coach about the possible consequences of failure: “That’s why I try to stay with myself, to remain factual and to take responsibility. That’s perfectly clear.”
It’s about “cleanly analyzing the performance and drawing the right conclusions,” emphasized Voss-Tecklenburg. The time before the World Cup must also be critically examined: “We had to overcome a bit of resistance, I don’t want to list everything because I don’t want to use it as an excuse whether we have injuries now or whether we’re starting in preparation and have taken a lot of consideration for certain situations.”
Husband rules out resignation
Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s husband does not believe that the national coach will resign. “Martina is a national coach with heart and soul. I can’t imagine that she’s thinking about retiring. She’s a fighter and will attack again,” said Hermann Tecklenburg of the “Rheinische Post”.
He called his wife shortly after the last group game, reported Tecklenburg: “Of course she’s also totally crushed. She said I should comfort her afterwards.”
Before the tournament in Australia and New Zealand, Tecklenburg had renewed the bet with his wife from the EM 2022 in England. Last summer he would have given her a finca in Mallorca for the European title, now with a World Cup final. But nothing will come of it either. “Now there will be no finca for the time being, because the point of a bet is to achieve a goal,” said Tecklenburg.
